Fennel - does anyone grow it well and if so how?

[darkbrowneggs]

.... I think the title says it all. ???  I have tried lots of times and I do get some fennel, but nothing I could be proud of. >:(  It sometimes looks more like Florence herb fennel   :-[

All the best
Sue

[darkbrowneggs]

[1066]

Hi, I'm probably being a bit dim, but do you mean the bulbing sort or the herb sort?

I grow bronze fennel in the garden, because it looks lovely, it and it seems to either self seed or survive the winter, and grows well in a sunny spot.

The bulbing sort I grow on my plot, the advice seems to be that it doesn't like the heat of summer and will bolt quickly, so you are best sowing it to grow for a late summer/early autumn crop. But I'm trying some early sown ones this year, to see if I can get an early crop

The other thing I heard was that don't grow fennel and dill together (herb sort) or they will cross pollinate and neither will taste good

oh, and don't ask me about trying to save seeds from bulbing fennel  :-X  ::)
1066  :)

[Unwashed]

I've grown florence fennel a few times but it goes to seed without bulbing up - I understand the problem is that I'm planting it too early.  I don't much care for it anyhow so I don't bother any more.

[darkbrowneggs]

No - Its me being dim  :-[  The one I am trying to grow the bulbing Florence fennel sort, but it ends up looking like a herb type fennel with very little bulb.  Well that's if it grows at all.  Last year I tried it late and planted nearly a whole deep bed with it leaving the sowing till June July and I think I had about one come up, usually even I do a bit better, and I don't think it was even that dry after midsummer last year.

[shirlton]

Try planting it later in a spot that doesn't get scorching sun on it.We grew it a few years ago and it was ok. Think I may try to grow some this year now that you have reminded me

[Bugloss2009]

the first time i grew fennel i did everything wrong. I sowed them in March in modules. Half went to seed and half grew to very full size, like you see in the shops. Now I sow in the ground back end of June into July. Get an OK crop but not huge bulbs. They look like the picture on the RHS info page, so I suppose that's as good as I can expect. We're not in Cyprus

[adrianhumph]

Hi all,  ;)
             I manage to grow fennel successfully every year ::) I use only one variety, called Rudy, available from Kings seeds. I have, in the past , grown it in individual pots, & then planted them out 2 or 3 weeks after germination. It rarely bolts & has proved very reliable, I do pick them quite small, not much bigger than a golf ball, I think if you wait for them to get large ,they bolt! This year I have sowed them direct into the soil (about 2 weeks ago) & they are growing on nicely at the moment. Sow them in short rows, every 3 weeks to get a continuous supply.
                                           Adrian.

[manicscousers]

I grow them in fibre pots then transplant , just started mine as I was told not to sow too early. I'll be growing them under my beans but at the end of the rows so they do get some light, experimenting time again  :)

[TISH]

I sow mine mid summer (in rootrainers) then plant out, earthing up and keeping well watered. I think earthing up helps.

[1066]

No - Its me being dim  :-[  

not at all ! Twas being not reading the question properly !
anyway looks like some interesting answers  :) I hadn't heard about earthing them up before.

Could someone confirm what I think might be right - in that fennel likes rich soil?

Will be planting my early batch this week  ;D

[adrianhumph]

Hi 1066, :D
                   My soil is 95% (approx) sand, with very little goodness in it, they do fine on this!
                 Adrian.

[darkbrowneggs]

Hi 1066, :D
                   My soil is 95% (approx) sand, with very little goodness in it, they do fine on this!
                 Adrian.

Hummm - you saying you are in Surrey has made me think.  I am in the Midlands and on high ground.  If there is space in the polytunnel after the broad beans come out I might try some in there this year, I wonder if it is the temperature that is the problem.  The other thing I can't grow is celariac, but I can get a sack of organically grown, so its hardly worth the effort of worrying over.   ;D

[1066]

Thanks adrianhumph   :)

[shirlton]

I got some fennel seeds today on the way home. The variety is Firenze. Sow May to July in pre watered ground.keep well watered until established.Earth up as the bulbs start to form.
Fatal going into a seed shop. came out with some more squash seeds. Honey Bear. Supposed to be resistant to disease.

[PeterVV]

I grew them ok last year, plenty of water, and I dug in some compost before planting, they werent huge , but they were tasty!